Releasing tube adapter for supporting tubes or the like



G. B. MARKLE, JR v I 2,381,301

Filed larch I 23 1945 Aug. 7,1945.

RELEASING TUBE ADAPTER FOR SUPPORTING TUBES OR THE LIKE Patented Aug. 7, 1945 RELEASIN G TUBE ADAPTER FOR SU PPORT- ING TUBES OR THE LIKE George B. Markle, Jr., Hazleton, Pa., assignor to Freeland Spool and Bobbin Corn, Hazleton, Pa in corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 23, 1943. Serial No. 480,159.

' 7 Claims. (01. 242-72) This invention relates to certain new and use- I ful improvements. in a releasing tube adapter for supporting tubes or the like, the objectibeing to providean adapter with plurality of spring'ac- -tuated members for. engaging the inner wall of a tube/or the like for locking the tub thereon so that it will rotate therewith; the member bein provided with projecting fingers having inclined faces adapted to be engaged by a ring-like releasing member for compressing the gripping members to allow the tube to be readily removed from the adapter. Another object of my invention is to provide a releasing tube adapter which is exceedingly simple and cheap in construction, the gripping members being so mounted that a very strong and. durable adapter is produced.

Another object of my invention to provide anadapter composed. of a very few parts which are so mounted that they can be easily assembled, means being provided for limiting the outward movement of the members for engaging the tube.-

In the drawing: I Fig. l "is a longitudinal section partly in elevation of anadapterpconstructed in accordance with my invention showing a tube in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectio I 4 Fig. '3 is an end view of the adapter.

V Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form I of blade.

' In carrying out my invention I employ a barrel A having a projection C at each end provided with gudgeon pins D on which the adapter revolves. The barrel is provided with a plurality of longimdinally disposed grooves E'the bottoms of which are formed with inclined portions as clearly shown. Arranged in the grooves are blades F having inclined inner edges, the point W of contact of the blade with the inclined bottom of the groove forming a fulcrum G upon which the blade rests and moves asthe bladeexpands sockets N formed in the bottom of the grooves E for preventing longitudinal movement of the blades in the grooves of the barrel.

. Discs 0 and P are secured to the ends of the barrel Aprovided with slots 0 and P registering with the grooves E of the barrel for holding the blades in position and for limiting the outwardmovement of the blades. A head Q is secured to one end of the barrel over the 'disc P to provide a'stop for the tube when being placed thereon as shown in Fig. 1.

The blades F are formed with tapering fingers F' at one end providing inclined faces adapted to be engaged by a ring like releasing member as disclosed in my Patent No. 2,294,677 for compressingthe blades to release the tube. from the adapter.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the blade R is provided with a serrated edge for engaging the tube. Y

I claim:

1. A releasing tube adapter comprising a barrel having a plurality of grooves, spring-actuated blades mounted in said grooves, the. outer faces of said blades being provided with grooves to receive friction producing material, means. for preventing longitudinal movement of said blades in said grooves, discs carried by the barrel for limiting the outward movement of said blades in said 'grooveasaid blades being provided with tapering fingers adapted to be engaged by a ring a ring tube releasing member.

and contracts as-a' tube is placed on or taken off I the adapter. Each blade F has a groove H formedinits. outer edge in which is arrangedv a strip of friction producing material I having beveled ends as shown, to facilitate the placing of the tube on j the adapter'as the blades are compressed as the tuberides up the inclined end of the material.

The under edges of the blades are providedwith I bores J and the bottom of the grooves E are provided with. bores K. in which are disr'iosed cofl springs -L for forcing the blades outwardly to frictionally engage the tube. .PinsM are carried by theunder edges of the blades working in tube releasing member.

2. A releasing tube adapter comprisinga bar rel having a plurality of grooves, spring-actuated blades mounted in said grooves, the outer faces of said blades being provided with serrated edges,

"means for preventing longitudinal movement of I said blades in said grooves, means carried by the I barrel for limiting the outward movement of said.

blades'in said grooves, said blades being provided with tapering fingers adapted to be. engaged by- 3. A releasing tube adapter comprising a bar- I rel havinggudgeons at itsends', a plurality of longitudinally disposed groovesformed'in said barrel having bottoms with inclinedportions, blades mounted in said grooves having inclined under edges, the point of contact between said blades and the inclined portions of said grooves forming a fulcrum upon which said blades rock, springs for forcing said blades outwardly, discs secured to the ends of said barrel provided with slots to receive'the ends of blades for limiting the outward movement of said blades; means carried by one end of thebarrelforming a'stop';

2 for a tube when placed on saidbarrel, said blades being provided with tapering fingers adapted to be engaged by a releasing ring for compressing .said blades to release said tube.

4. A releasing tube adapter having gudgeons at its ends, comprising a barrel provided with a plurality of longitudinally disposed grooves having bottoms with inclined portions at an angle to the axis of the barrel, spring actuated blades normally held in expanded position mounted in said grooves on said inclined portions and adapted to engage a tube or the like, means for limiting the outward movement of said blades, said blades being provided with tapering fingers adapted to be engaged by a ring like releasing member for compressing said blades to release the tube or the like.

5. A releasing tube adapter comprising a barrel, a plurality of rocking blades mounted in said barrel, resilient yielding means for normally forcing said blades outwardly to engage the inner wall of a tube when placed on said barrel, means for limiting the outward movement of said blades,

said blades being provided with fingers at one end extending outwardly beyond the end of the barrel and adapted to be engaged by a separate releasing member for compressing said blades for releasing said tube.

6. A releasing tube adapter comprising a barrel, a plurality of resiliently supported expansible blades mounted in saidbarrel normally held in expanded position for engaging the inner wall of a tube, means for limiting the outward movement of said blades, said blades being provided with fingers extending outward beyond the barrel at one end having inclined faces adapted to 

